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Visit The Philippines

My experience with Tourradar

Having been an experienced traveler I never really saw myself doing a days long guided tour. To be honest I was a bit worried it would be a waste of money since I really didn’t see myself enjoying being under tour package.
However, tourradar had a sale that I couldn’t say no to $350 for 5 days and 4 nights in Palawan Philippines. At that price I figured what the heck! This is my tourradar review.

What is tourradar?

Tourradar is an Austrian online tour broker founded by two brothers that connects people with tours worldwide. The company was founded in 2015 and specializes in multi-day package tours .

They have agreements with hundreds of operators and as a result are able to negotiate special discounts that you may not get by just going to the operator’s website.

What my tour included

My Palawan tour included:

Accommodation at a hotel

English speaking guide

El Nido & Honda Bay Island Hoping Tours

Underground River Tour

Meals

Full transportation

Entrance fees

I recommend that you check to see if the offerings are still the same.
Oh and the flight wasn’t included. I had to pay for the flight from Manila to Palawan myself but I used Kiwi.com and only paid $200 round trip for two people.

How was the booking process?

The booking process was relatively easy. One just need to book online. One thing I discovered was that the prices were for a minimum of two people.
Meaning that the $400 was per person with a minimum of two people not for both. I guess I should’ve known that but I had never booked a group tour before!
i could’ve booked a tour for one but I would’ve had to pay an extra $260. I just said screw it and took my partner and paid the $800. Tourradar doesn’t charge any booking fees or anything like that which is nice.
They also allow you to pay in installments with an initial payment of 30% so long as its 2 months before the trip.
You must have a credit or debit card with a visa, mastercard, or American express symbol to use tourradar.

My Palawan tour

Day 1

Tourradar set me up with Bamba Tours, a local Philippine tour company, and they took care of everything. They picked us up from the Puerto Princesa airport and took us immediately to El Nido. That was an 8 hour van ride by the way!
Luckily–for Mike–he was tired and slept. I however, can’t sleep in a moving vehicle so I just got to watch the driver going too fast on a two lane highway passing other vehicles
side note:In developing countries they all go to fast on less than perfect roads. You get used to it after awhile
We finally reached El Nido and went to our hotel. We got to the hotel room threw our bags on the ground got something to eat at some hole in the wall restaurant. It was actually pretty good but I don’t remember the name.

Day 2

Mike and I island hoping

Day 2 was island hoping. That was a lot of fun! We went to several island and big and small lagoons. They fed us lunch and we met these awesome girls from eastern Europe. They told us how they just graduated from nursing school and will go to Britain to practice work as midwives
Our group in the big lagoon

Day 3

We were transferred back to Puerto Princesa which meant another 8 hours in the van. Honestly I don’t get why they didn’t just have us do the Puerto Princesa stuff first and then go to El Nido but I’m sure there’s a reason and most likely it has to do with money.

Day 4

On the boat to the underground river

We had an option to do Honda Bay or the Underground River tour. Since Honda Bay wasn’t that special compared to El Nido we chose the Underground River tour and we’re so glad we did as the underground river is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the new 7 wonders of the natural world .
The Underground River truly is a river underground in a cave with all kinds of different bat, salamander, and other unique species only found inside the cave.

Entrance to Underground River Cave -Palawan Island

Day 5

Okay so the tour was supposed to end on day 4. However, I knew Palawan had some history and since I am a history buff I stayed behind while make returned to Manila since he had to work the next morning. I took a city tour of Puerto Princesa and Iwahig Prison.
Read about that here.

Tourradar vs. Doing it myself

The tourradar portion of my trip cost me about $1100 for two people when it was all said and done. That’s including non-included meals, souvenirs, the flight and other incidentals all this during the high season.
If I had done it alone I would paid:

Flight

$206

Hotels

$40 x 4 Nights=$160

Transportation

$200

Underground River Tour

$55 x 2 people=$110

Island Hoping Tour

$75 x 2 people=$150

Food

$300

Total

$1,120

Also the peace of mind of having someone else take care of everything instead of having to plan myself.

Other Tourradar review questions

Do the Tour guides speak fluent English?

Yes, an English examination is often part of the licensure process to become a tour guide

Are the tour guides licensed?

Yes, all tour guides must be licensed to work a tourradar operator

Were there hidden fees for you?

No, all the entrance fees and listed items were covered. That being said its extremely important to read carefully what’s included and what isn’t. For example, when it says ‘dinner at your leisure’ that means you’re the one who’s paying for the meal

What is Tourradar's cancellation policy

It depends on the particular tour operator you are booked with. Generally speaking the deposit is non-refundable (as most deposits aren’t). It also depends on how close you are to your tour date. I recommend you cancel ASAP if you’re planning on cancelling. As a general rule if you’ve already paid don’t count on getting your money back.

Does Tourradar charge a cancellation fee?

No, but as stated above the deposit is usually non-refundable

What does it mean if it says 'on request'?

It means almost all of the slots are taken and that the operator will only accept full payment for the tour

Can I pay with cash?

No, tourradar only accepts credit or debit cards.

Is there a minimum number of people?

Most tours require at least two people (but the price is listed as per person). However usually you can go by yourself if you pay an additional fee.

What's the advantage of using tourradar?

It is often cheaper to do a group tour. In addition because they are so large they can negotiate better deals with the individual operators. They also have a fair review/ratings system so you can see what real customers thought about the tour. This gives a customer peace of mind.

Who’s lying and who’s telling the truth?

So it seems WTS TonTon Tours in Oslob didn’t like my post where I put them on blast for the way they treated me. No surprises there. As a result they have decided to tell lies instead of just atoning for their misdeeds. Sadly, no surprises there either.
Win a trip for 2 Japan, Morocco, Turkey or North America!
From what I can tell they posted at least 4 different responses to my one story. Lets go over them one-by-one.

Response 1

I’m the fraud? What exactly did I defraud this company of? They acknowledge (in your later responses) they kept 4000php and didn’t give my companion and I a tour. Who may I ask ended up with more money at the end of this horrid day? If I truly were a fraudster then I should find another line of work.
Insofar as the case goes truth is always a defense against libel.

Response 2

Lets address the lies in this response one-by-one.

Lie #1

“he called past 6pm and he would like to do the tour the next morning,”
I guess they weren’t counting on me having phone records. Luckily I called them through skype. Lets see what the records say.
Hmm now lets confirm that is indeed their phone number…
OOPS!
Caught red handed!
I called them on Monday November 13th 2017 and their own records will show this incident occurred Saturday November 18th 2017.
Need more proof?
Here are the text messages confirming the tour with this company. Please note the dates and times:

About the price

I did indeed negotiate a cheaper price. That’s business. If they didn’t want to give me that price they shouldn’t have agreed to it. Period.
It is funny though that they bring up that I negotiated the price down when on their website they guarantee the lowest price.
I guess the owner forgot about his own policies because when he started cursing at me he said it wasn’t good that I brought up the island trek tours didn’t ask for any sort of transfer fees.

Lie #2

“so we pick them up from their hotel in cebu, and since they dont pay the deposit our driver inform them if they can ask 500 as initial payment and it will be deducted from the agreed amount of 8000,”
Pure fiction. The driver asked me for gas money. He said the owner did not give him enough money for gas and he needed gas money to reach Oslob. I told him I didn’t have cash and we needed to stop at an ATM in order to pay.
Need proof?
Here is my ATM card statement where the driver used my atm card to buy gas.

Note: The date listed is the date the transaction posted to my account not the date the transaction actually occured

I never had a vehicle in the Philippines let alone in Cebu where I was on a vacation. So why would there be a transaction from shell gas station on my card if the driver didn’t use it to buy gas?

Lie #3

“then CAMERON WILLIAMS ask if we are accepting credit card in tan aawan, and the driver said to him, no simply because tan awan has a very weak data coverage which a card terminal needs to work, and to the fact that we informed him upon his reservation that we only accepts cash. so they reach oslob already and does not have any cash, we offered them to go to SAMBOAN, SATANDER and lastly DALAGUETE to get cash on ATM but go only a few hundreds , short for 8000 total, ( by the way using our car go to this atm machines is not included in the package that we booked but we accomodate him due to guest-customer service relation”
I told the driver in Cebu we needed to stop at an ATM to get cash as I didn’t have cash on me due to an incident of a BPI ATM machine withdrawing funds from my account but not dispensing the funds the day before.
Why else would I trust a stranger with my ATM card?!
My companion even told him in Filipino that I needed to go to an atm machine. He said yeah okay and kept driving. I fell asleep (it was 4:30am) assuming he would wake me once we reach the atm.
The next thing I know we’re near Oslob. We did have to go to two different towns to get to a functional atm but that’s the fault of their driver not listening to us. They ‘accommodated’ me to compensate for their employee’s mistake not mine.

Lie # 4

“then when they are back in tan awan he begun to shout, break our glass table in our office ( we had a cctv footage )”
This is purely laughable. After they demanded more money than we agreed to I did get angry and hit the table but it didn’t break.
It’s funny since we spent nearly 3 hours in the police headquarters after the fact and not once did the owner or his employee mention their table being broken.
Seems to me it would’ve significantly helped their case that they should keep all the money had I actually broken their table.
Given their already proven lies a reasonable person can assume they are also lying when they said I broke their table.

Lie #5

“…then my driver whispered t me and said ” sir in dalaguete we asked me if he can pay me 1,000 just to drive him back to cebu” so we asked CAMERON WILLIAMS why he needs to do that?”
I did ask to pay to return to Oslob but so what? I felt the driver’s conduct was very unprofessional and my companion and I had a disagreement. I don’t see how offering money to return and cancel is cheating.
Need proof?
I even attempted to send a text message to the owner asking how much to cancel but it didn’t go through due to poor signal.

Lie #6

So the police ask why he needs to break the glass table and everything…later we know that the money he have is a little short to 8000 which he needs to settle for the entire tour.
Pure fiction. No where was a table mentioned. I was not short the money. I was in the middle of paying when they gave their surprise fee and didn’t give them anymore. I had already given them 7000 php but I stopped giving them bills after that.
If I really didn’t have 500 pesos then how did we get back to Cebu after they kept (stole) my 4000 pesos?
*shakes head*

Lie #7

“we are afraid he might do bad and more, so at this point we insisted we just cancel the tour, we will just ask for the one way transportation from cebu to oslob,,now who says its not 4000 for a private car rental from cebu to oslob, no one, because if you look into the approved tariff of DOT its more than 4000 for the trip”
Whether or not the DOT approved a tariff of 4000php or 400000php is completely irrelevant. That’s not his cost to transport me and my companion one way from cebu to oslob.
Again the entire tour was 8000php!
Using the owner’s numbers one way cost him 4000php. Meaning both ways would have cost him 8000php!
That means that he would’ve been losing money on the entire tour minus the initial and final transportation?
Do you really believe WTS TonTon Tours would make such an arrangement?! Does that make sense to you? I’d say it doesn’t.

Response 3

Not withstanding the previous lies already addressed I wanted to address the additional lies in this response

Lie #1

“…Ill not do the tour anymore and I already paid the transportation in your office”
In order to believe that I told the driver that the transportation was ‘already paid’ would mean you’d also have to believe that I expected the driver to believe that I had gone all the way to Oslob, at my expense, just to pay the transportation and then returned only to go there again and pay a second time?
Since according to them the 500php that the driver requested was an initial deposit. Let us not forget that they said numerous times they don’t accept credit cards.

Lie #2

“…he curse Pilipinos are stupid, he curse Oslob for not having atm machines, he broke our glass counter (for which we have cctv footage)”
I hope you are seeing a pattern here.
They are expecting you (the reader) to believe in a place full of Filipinos that I ‘shouted’ that Filipinos are stupid.
They are expecting you (the reader) to believe that whilst in Oslob I cursed Oslob for not having atm machines.
They are expecting you (the reader) to believe that I broke their glass counter but not once did they mention that whilst at the police station? If I broke their table why didn’t they mention it and demand to keep all of the money I had given them.

Response 4

They posted another response which they deleted.

Corrupt police wouldn’t listen

I tried to explain this to the police but they wouldn’t listen.
The owner just kept saying ‘the police agree with me!’ and then the police officer told me if I didn’t sign their ‘compromise agreement’ stating that he could keep the 4k for a one-way trip to Oslob I would be detained.
After signing the ‘agreement’ I asked the police for a copy of it which they declined to give to me.
That’s actually why I am speaking out. President Duterte is working hard to clean up corruption but it still exists and the public should know when it happens.

My Las Piñas bamboo organ visit

I had the privilege of visiting the Las Pinas bamboo organ. I took a Tagaytay/Manila Tour to see it. The cost was $97. The tour was broken up into thirds. A jeepny factory, the las piñas bamboo organ, and Tagaytay itself. This article is just about the Jeepny factory & Las Pinas Bamboo organ portions.

The Jeepney Factory

Me next to a 60-80’s Jeepney Model

Anyone who’s ever been to or knows about the Philippines knows Jeepnies are an integral part of the Philippine cultural landscape. They started off as left over American army jeeps that the Filipinos used for transportation.
Now it is a big industry in the Philippines. We got to see the rebuilding of the jeepneys as well as the different style of Jeeps. In the photo I am standing next to a 1960’s model jeepney.
Like everything they change and they just don’t make them like they used to. Sadly the high cost of artwork to make these particular Jeepney’s just make it undesirable to potential jeepney buyers. *sigh* After that we continued on to the organ.

The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ

The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ in St. Joseph Parish Church in Las Piñas City, Philippines, is a 19th-century church organ with unique organ pipes; they are made almost entirely of bamboo.
It was completed in 1824 by Father Diego Cera, the builder of the town’s stone church and its first resident Catholic parish priest.
After age and numerous disasters had rendered the musical instrument unplayable for a long time, in 1972, the national government and the local community joined together to have the organ shipped to Germany for restoration.
For its anticipated return in 1975, the home church of the bamboo organ and the surrounding buildings were restored to their 19th-century state by Architect Francisco Mañosa and partner Ludwig Alvarez in time for its scheduled return.The annual International Bamboo Organ Festival, a music festival of classical music, was started to celebrate the music of the reborn instrument and its unique sound.
This organ is a jetsetter. It has spent some of its life in Europe and the Philippines!
First they let us plus a sample of the organ. Here’s me and some other tourists playing. I really think I will be the next Liberache!

Interesting bamboo organ facts:

It was completed in 1824 after numerous failed attempts by father Diego Cera
In April of 1932 the old human powered bellows were swapped out as they were highly labor intensive and didn’t provide enough air for the masterpiece organ to reach its full potential
In February of 1975 it was shipped to Bonn Germany for repairs after extensive damage due to typhoons and neglect
On March 16th 1975 it returned home to the Philippines with much fanfare. A Bamboo Organ Inaugural Concert was held to mark its return to the Philippines. Wolfgang Oehms was the featured performer, complemented by the Las Piñas Boys’ Choir
2003-2004 saw another major overhall of the bamboo organ. The bellows were updated and several pipes were replaced and/or swapped out

Maybe you are in a bind situation where you simply can’t go to both. Most likely due to lack of time I guess. Therefore you want to know if you should visit Palawan or Boracay. This article should help you to make a decision.

Palawan

Let’s talk about what Palawan has to offer:

The Underground River

The absolute #1 thing to do in Palawan is see the underground river. On January 28th 2012 it was declared one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. It is just what it sounds like. It’s a large river inside a cave with many beautiful geological formations and various exotic life forms. You need to visit this if you come to the Philippines! Otherwise it’d be like going to France and not visiting Versailles or the Eiffel Tower. With complete day tours for $70 or less there’s simply no excuse not to go there.

Great Museums

If you’re like me and you love history and museums Palawan has some great museums to offer. There are about eleven museums worth mentioning:

Diving at Coron Bay

Coron Bay is situated in North Palawan, the most westerly part of the Philippines. It lies in between Busuanga and Culion Islands. There is fabulous diving all around the area, but the bay is particularly well known as having some of the best wreck diving in the world. The wrecks and pleasant rock formations provide for excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities, with underwater visibility extending up to 20 meters. Forbes magazine named Coron as one of the ten best dive sites in the world.For tours click here

El Nido

Situated in Bacuit Bay, El Nido, covering a land area of 465.1 square kilometres (179.6 sq mi) in the northernmost tip of mainland Palawan, is bordered by the Linapacan Strait in the north, the Sulu Sea in the east, and the South China Sea in the west. It is composed of 45 islands and islets,each has its own unique geological formations. The highest peak is at Cadlao Island, towering up to 640 metres (2,100 ft) above sea level. El Nido is currently ranked #4 in Condé Nast Traveler’s list of “20 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World.” CNNGo has called it the Best Beach and Island destination in the Philippines for its “extraordinary natural splendor and ecosystem. For El Nido tours Click here

Firefly Watching

Just like other parts of the Philippines Palawan has firefly watching. You’ll be impressed by beauty of these graceful creatures as they fly around the night sky searching for food and mates. For Firefly tour click here

Gay Palawan

El Nido’s biggest booze cruise! Launched in February 2016, this lesbian-owned Party Boat offers ocean cruising, island chillin’, snorkeling, BBQ, music and free flow of alcoholic drinks. They also offer overnight trips to secluded islands for groups.
The boat picks you up in the morning (11am) and drops you off after sunset. It cruises to the best spots, beaches and lagoons in the area. Check the website for rates, routes and more information. LGBT community receives a 10% discount.

The popular TIKI Resto Bar offers good food, reasonably priced drinks, regular live music and fun party nights in Palawan. TIKI is particularly busy on Friday and Saturday night, attracting a large number of local gay guys who are easy to spot.

One of the best & most famous seafood restaurants in Puerto Princesa. The gay-owned KaLui offers an authentic experience from the moment you arrive. Remove your shoes and walk barefooted to your table.
Everything on the menu is either from the sea or grown in the field. Fresh fish, sashimi, tempura, shellfish soup, sinigang, baked mussel and more.
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Boracay

Boracay was awarded as the 2012 best island in the world from the international travel magazine Travel + Leisure. In 2014, the resort island was at the top of the Best Islands in the World list published by the international magazine Condé Nast Traveler. In 2016, Boracay headed the magazine’s list of Top 10 destinations to watch. It too has much to offer

Beaches

Boracay is home to some world class beaches. In the words of one blogger

Boracay is the kind of island you will never want to leave. I’ve traveled to more than 50 countries and there are not many places where I’ve returned 5 times. Boracay is one of them. – Justonewayticket.com

White Beach

In the words of one reviewer: “Clear turquoise waters, soft sand, lots of activities and restaurants to choose from. What more could you ask for?”
Ariel’s Point is a breathtaking eco-adventure destination located a short and scenic boat ride away from Boracay Island. With five cliff-diving platforms (ranging in height from 3 meters to 13 meters) and ample opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and canoeing in a friendly setting, Ariel’s Point is the perfect daytime venue for Boracay travelers who want to experience the natural beauty of the Philippines while also meeting fellow travelers.

Willy’s Rock

Willy’s Rock is Boracay’s most recognizable attraction. It is an oddly shaped volcanic formation topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Bars

Bei Kurt und Magz, Station 3 beachfront. Happy Hour from 2PM – 8PM.
Yes, the photo above belongs to Kurt & Magz, a Snack Bar & Restaurant owned by a German. Caipirinhas for 25 PHP? How could I resist? Great place to watch the sunset as well.
Shantal’s Resto Bar, Station 3 beachfront, right next to Kurt & Magz. Happy Hour from 2PM – 8PM. Shantal’s Resto is another great Beach Bar (left photo below) offering beers and cocktails for a really small price. The place is always crowded. Good spot to meet other backpackers.
Exit Bar, Station 1 beachfront between the Red Coconut and Bom Bom Bar. No Happy Hour.
One of my favorite places, such a cozy little bar. You’ll meet kite surfers, expats and friendly locals here, always up for some conversation. Great vibe and cheap drinks (beer or rum coke for 50 PHP).
Shenna’s Restaurant, Station 2. Happy Hour from 5PM – 9PM.
I mentioned Shenna’s before as they have cheap and tasty food. But also their cocktails are great and strong! Here a photo from their

Gay Boracay

Popular nightclub, restaurant, bar and party venue. Under the same management of Manila’s hottest super-clubs (Encore, Manor and Republiq), EPIC is the place to see and be seen in Boracay
EPIC’s beachfront setting offers a relaxed atmosphere and fabulous views of White Beach. The restaurant serves an extensive menu of Asian and Western food. At night, the venue turns into a dance club with open-air dance floor and some the best local and international DJ’s. EPIC also hosts the biggest summer parties on the island.
The crowd is mixed, with some gay guys. Cover charge includes two drinks. EPIC is located on the beachfront of D’Mall, Station

Henann Regency Resort

This hotel is sorta gay. They have a Jungle circuit gay dance party once a year.

What gay Boracay?

As you can see gay life in Boracay is pretty passé
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Costs

Costs of course vary greatly depending upon the time of year, your accommodations, and vacation style. That being said Boracay is the much more expensive option especially during peak season which is generally from November to May. You can expect to spend anywhere from 1000-2000 US dollars for a week in Boracay. Contrast that with about $400-$1700 for Palawan.

The Winner

Both places are wonderful choices. My personal opinion is Palawan is the better destination if you can’t go to both. Palawan has more things to do, more history, more culture, and not to mention more gay life. Boracay is basically a beautiful expensive beach. There are some other things to do but Boracay is very similar to Phucket in Thailand. Most people go to fuck and sit on the beach. That wouldn’t be a problem except there’s not much of a gay population there. You’ll find more gay life in Palawan as there are more gay people. Chances are good if you go to Boracay you’ll have to take a gay guy with you from Manila or elsewhere and that can be quite expensive if he can’t afford to pay his own way. Hint: chances are good he can’t.

Resources

Getting Around The Philippines

The Philippines is unique in South East Asia as it’s an archipelago of over 7000 islands . That means as a tourist the number one way you’ll be getting around the Philippines is by plane. Trust me those hot Filipino men are worth every flight you’ll take!

Plane Travel

I’m sure the word ‘plane’ sent chills down your spine as you conflated plane with high cost. The good news is that’s just not true. Thanks to travel sites like Kiwi.com you can get super cheap flights throughout the Philippines. I’ve gotten round trip tickets for less than 100 bucks out the door! Flying really is the best way to get around the Philippines.

Bus Travel

Of course bus travel is an option if you’re going somewhere within the same island but keep in mind that:
Bus travel is slow due to road conditions
Make sure you get a high end luxury bus otherwise you’ll be miserable. I got a 2nd class bus once. Never again. The window was broken and there wasn’t enough leg room. Really there was no leg room.

That’s it!

Yup insofar as getting around the Philippines is concerned flying or busing are really your only two options. You could take a ferry to go between islands but unless its between next door neighbors why would you?
Kiwi.com – Book Cheap Flights!

Meet John & Henning

For this blog I spoke to two gay men over 40 John and Henning. John is an Irish citizen of 60 now residing in the Philippines as a retiree. He says he loves it here. “Other than the cheap cost of living, the friendly people. I the obvious question if he’s worried he’s just being used for his money he responded “actually my partner pays most of the bills. It’s unusual I know but that’s how it is”. Henning is a retired German citizen who decided to spend the rest of his days in the Philippines. “What can I say? Its more fun in the Philippines” he said with a laugh poking fun at the Philippine tourism board’s slogan. He lives with a 34 year old local in a middle income neighborhood in Baguio Philippines.

Filipinos Respect Age

When asked what they both liked most about dating in the Philippines they both responded “Filipinos respect age”. “In Ireland dating was tough for me. You’re basically invisible once you hit 45 unless you have a shitload of money” responded John. “I am a retired NHS nurse. I’m not rich”. Henning expressed similar sentiments “Before I was nothing but now I’m a God here! I couldn’t keep up with all the messages!”

It’s not all sunshine & lollipops

Both acknowledge that dating in the Philippines isn’t all sunshine and lollipops. “You’ve really gotta make sure you’re thinking with the big head rather than the little one. I’ve seen guys get wiped out by charming straight men.” said John. When asked if they were personally worried about scammers they said they weren’t. John said he wasn’t worried because he didn’t go around flashing his passport or money around like some guys.

“A lot of the guys that get scammed here had it coming. They were just twats looking for a little bitch they could fuck every night. They ended up getting fucked. I mean its not hard to spot a gold digger…my God a 22 year old hunk claiming he loves you after one date but the only thing he’ll let you do is blow him off for 500 pesos?! Hello!”

Henning concurred. “It’s super easy to spot gold grabbers. He claims to love you quickly but then has some sort of catastrophe that only you can solve with your money.” He told a story of how a young man tried to scam him. “I once had a 25 year kid tell me online his house burned down and he needed cash to rebuild it for his family. The problem was I lived in the same neighborhood as him. He just didn’t know it. I even saw him go inside his house! “Also don’t come here if you’re a bottom size queen!” he exclaimed laughing.

The Philippines is not for everyone

Both men acknowledged that dating abroad isn’t for everyone though. Issues such as cultural conflicts and lack self discipline were both cited as to why some people may not want to try their luck abroad. “You’ve gotta take your time if you want to be successful here” John said. “Sin is cheap here” He said he’s seen so many guys wanting quick love when it just doesn’t work that way. “Keep your head out of the clouds you’ll be fine here”.

Finally I asked them about their current relationships. Both stated they were very happy. “Its more than the fact that he’s hot. He’s smart and is actually into me! That makes a world of difference” said John about his partner. According to Henning “My Filipino is the best thing that ever happened me. For the first time in my life I had a young man spoil me. He cooks and cleans and most of all he loves me”.
Of course the Philippines isn’t the only destination for gay expats. Thailand is still the country of choice for many gay travelers to SE Asia. However as prices in Thailand continue to rise more and more queer folk are heading to the Philippines. Many say the Filipino men are better looking than Thais. Others cite the fact that over 2/3 of the population speaks English as a reason to come here over Thailand. There are more and more gay dating sites meetpinoys.com catering to gay men looking for love in the Philippines.
John and Henning have been with their partners for 2 & 4 years respectively.
At the end of our talk John sent me more photos of local guys in his area. I guess he wanted to make his point why coming to the Philippines was worth it! These are the ones suitable for a pg-13 website…
Meet local English speaking Filipinos here! Create a free account today!
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Cheap Flights + Cheap Hotels + Cheap Food =Good Time!

You’ll find some of the best deals on flights, hotels, and food here in the Philippines. Plus a nice exotic atmosphere to boot! Save money by coming to the Philippines. Look at how much you can save by coming to the Philippines vs. Thailand!

Cheap Flights to the Philippines

Okay so now you’re hopefully convinced you want to travel to the Philippines but afraid you can’t afford the flight right? Wrong! If you plan ahead and research your options you can get here super cheap. Would you believe I only paid $368 to get from San Francisco CA to Manila in The Philippines? It’s true!
How did I do it? Through Exploretrip.com!
With exploretrip you have to plan your trips 30 days in advance. They also offer human travel agents although I’ve never used one of them. This is by far the cheapest ticket I’ve ever gotten. Thanks to exploretrip it was cheaper to fly to the other side of the world than across America. I’ve used many different sites to go nearly around the world. You won’t get a cheaper ticket than on exploretrip.com .

Cheap Hotels & Resorts in the Philippines

Hotels

Hotels in the Philippines can range anywhere from $7usd per night to $200usd per night in a high end Manila hotel. I use CheapOAir to book most of my hotels. They have a price match guarantee and I’ve never had a problem with their service. They’re a great option if you are traveling to the Philippines on a budget! I stayed at the red planet in Cagayan de Oro for just $10 a night!

Cheap Food in the Philippines

The food in the Philippines is tasty and inexpensive. When I go around the Philippines I always use TripAdvisor to find the tastiest food and the best deals. But honestly the best way to get cheap good food is just to have a local with you and get some good street food.

Meet Filipinos here!

Looking for a travel buddy in the Philippines? Our Membership Database is the best place to meet lgbt friendly Filipinos. They can take you around and make sure you get the local prices.

Gay Guide to Survival in the Philippines

If you are reading this then chances are at least 50/50 you’re a gay man considering or already living or going to the Philippines. It is perfectly normal and healthy to seek love or physical endeavors while in the Philippines. This gay guide to survival will keep your heart and your wallet intact.

If you are seeking love

If you are seeking more than just a travel buddy or a fling here I will tell you it is possible but tough unless you look like the guy in the ad. The reality is up to 90% of the guys that approach you are looking for money. Here are some phrases that if you hear you should run:
“Hello, I’m looking for a serious relationship”
“I have a problem”
“My dream is to live somewhere where gay is accepted”
and last but not least
“I love you” (if its too soon)
If you truly do want love look for a guy that doesn’t need you. Look for an educated man with a decent job. If he tells you he’s unemployed or underemployed he’s really telling why he wants the relationship with you. The best advice I’ve ever seen when it comes to dating came from a facebook group for expats.

If after dating for three months he doesn’t have some financial catastrophe that only you can solve he’s a keeper. After 6 months tell him that your pension/IRA/whatever your source of income has stopped for some reason. If he offers to go to work to keep the two of you afloat then you’ve got a winner

The bottom line: TAKE YOUR TIME

lf you are seeking a travel buddy

This is easier. A travel buddy is honestly a very good investment. If you take a travel buddy you’ll get the Filipino price instead of the foreign price on many items. He’ll know all the hidden nooks and crannies that aren’t in the guide book and more importantly he’ll know where not to go. We offer a travel guide find service. There are several sites you can go on like Meetpinoys.com and Facebook.com if you are seeking a travel buddy. On meetpinoys.com you have to create a free account but you can search for guys in just about any location in the Philippines. They also have personalized matching service to help you find the right guy. If you use fb just post a photo of yourself in a group and say you are looking for a travel buddy in x location on z dates. Expect to pay for your expenses and his. It’s pretty much understood that sex is part of the deal but you can make sure it is if you want. In my trips I’ve never once had a travel buddy refuse sex.
Some useful tips
Ask him to send a copy of his ID through facebook/email/whatever first. This will keep you from getting robbed and falling victim to an “I’m underage and if you don’t pay I’ll scream” scam.
Let him know that you’re looking for a friend only. Please don’t be a dick and mislead these guys into thinking they’re going to get a green card out of this
Check his English proficiency first! This is a must! Just because they can type it doesn’t mean they can talk English! Speak via skype prior to any meetings. This is just a good idea for a variety of reasons
Expect to hear a sad story about his financial woes during the trip. You can avoid this by saying “I’ll give you a 2000 pesos (40 bucks) after the trip if you don’t tell me a sad story”.

If you’re just looking for fun

This is the easiest. The Philippines doesn’t have designated gay areas like say Thailand does. Your best bet is going to a massage parlor, facebook, or grindr.

The Philippines: The Next Gay Destination!

Thank you for visiting my gay Philippines page. When I was looking to travel to SE Asia my first thoughts were about Thailand. I had heard many good things about it and the food it to die for. However, after further research I found Thailand to be extremely commercial and relatively expensive. I did end up visiting there, basically because I had to, but I and my wallet were much happier in the Philippines!

The Culture: The Philippines has a colorful cultural heritage that is the apex of marvelous.

Iwahig Prison in Palawan Island

Philippine hospitality: The reputation of Philippine hospitality is earned. Filipinos love foreigners. You’ll be treated with warmth and kindness here. In the Philippines you won’t be a ‘farang’. If you decide to meet a guy and spend some time with him don’t be shocked if he introduces you to his family and friends. Chances are good he’ll be proud to have you at his arm rather than feeling something else. Even the prisoners are friendly!

Underground River in Palawan

Natural Beauty: The Philippines has stunning natural beauty in places like El Nido, Palawan, Boracay, Cebu Island, and frankly all over the country. The Philippines hosts one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The underground river in Palawan.

Member of Meetpinoys.com

Male Beauty: The Filipino beauty is unmatched throughout Asia! If you like rice then you’ll love the Philippines! If you want to meet some nice Filipinos you can register for our site and become a member today.

Lots to do: Whether its shopping in some of the world’s largest malls, seeing historical sites and monuments, or swimming with whale sharks the Philippines has got you covered!

Whether you are just looking for beautiful men or beautiful scenery the Philippines is the place to be!